Compasses, Or Dividers (Fig. 47), are used to draw circles and curves, and for spacing and scribing, by which is meant the process of fitting a piece of wood to an uneven surface. Calipers (Fig. 48) are used to measure the outside of a round or oval object. Those shown are known as "outside" calipers; "inside" calipers, or those used for measuring the inside of a hole, have straight legs. These tools ordinarily are not considered a part of a carpenter's kit, as they are generally used upon work requiring more exact measurements. Woodworkers' tools are graded to sizes, generally nothing finer than 16ths of an inch; hence, the ordinary methods of measuring will usually give sufficiently accurate results.

Fig. 47. Compasses.

Fig. 48. Calipers.